For Bonfire Night handouts, count the people who will receive a sealed pack before choosing a format: Tesco Seedless Raisins and Whitworths Sunny Raisin each have 12-pack options, while Whitworths also has six larger 30g packs and BEAR Fruit Splits has five 20g fruit sticks. Portion size and the exact pack label matter as much as the count, particularly when serving children or guests with dietary requirements.
Count the children who will receive a pack, then check portion size and the ingredients on the packaging. For toddlers, the NHS advises giving dried fruit such as raisins with meals rather than between them because the sugar it contains can cause tooth decay.
Sealed portions can be handed out without opening a communal bowl. A five- or six-pack may cover a small group; for more guests, compare the number of individual packs before buying.
Keep the original packaging where guests can inspect ingredients and allergen information. GOV.UK recommends retaining packaging when providing food at community and charity events.
Start with the handout count, then compare portion size and the information on the exact pack you intend to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Pack count | Count sealed portions, not just total weight. Tesco Seedless Raisins 168g and Whitworths Sunny Raisin 12x14g each provide 12 packs; BEAR Fruit Splits 5x20g provides five. | I want one handout for each guest, with enough packs for the number expected. |
| Portion size | Compare grams per pack: Whitworths lists both 12x14g and 6x30g raisin formats. A larger portion means fewer handouts in the six-pack format. | For a smaller group, I may prefer fewer, larger portions to more small boxes. |
| Ingredients | Read the physical pack for ingredients and allergen information before serving. Waitrose lists raisins (99%) and sunflower oil for Whitworths 12x14g and warns that stalks may remain. | Guests with dietary requirements need to be able to inspect the exact product being served. |
| Snack format | Decide between raisin boxes, individually wrapped fruit sticks and an unportioned bag. If using a serving bowl, retain the original packaging for ingredient checks. | I need handouts for an outdoor gathering, or a bowl for a snack table where individual wrappers are unnecessary. |
| Sugar information | Check the nutrition panel’s sugars figure per 100g and per serving where shown; do not read a no-added-sugar claim as meaning sugar-free. | I want to understand what is in each portion rather than rely on a front-of-pack claim. |
| Toddlers | The NHS advises giving dried fruit such as raisins to toddlers with meals, rather than as a between-meal snack, because of tooth-decay risk. | If toddlers are attending, I need to consider when the dried fruit will be served, not only how it is packed. |
A pack’s total weight does not tell you how many people can receive an individual handout. Five fruit sticks and 12 raisin boxes serve different guest counts if you plan one per person.
Count intended recipients first, then check both the number of sealed packs and the grams in each.
Dried fruit can contain naturally occurring sugars. For toddlers, the NHS advises serving dried fruit with meals rather than as a between-meal snack because of tooth-decay risk.
Read the nutrition panel and decide when the packs will be served.
Guests may need to inspect the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack. The Whitworths listings also warn that fruit stalks may remain.
Keep boxes and packets available at the serving area rather than relying only on a retailer webpage.
Waitrose lists Whitworths Sunny Raisin snack packs in 12x14g and 6x30g formats.
Tesco lists Seedless Raisins as a 12-pack weighing 168g.
Sainsbury’s lists BEAR Fruit Splits Strawberry & Apple as five individually wrapped 20g fruit sticks, rather than raisin boxes.
M&S lists Taste Buds 10 Raisin Snack Boxes alongside larger dried-fruit bags.
These options include raisin boxes, portioned cranberries, blueberries and red dates, and a 100g fruit-roll product. Check the pack count and label of the option you choose against your guest list.
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Twelve 14g raisin portions offer separate handouts for a group. For toddlers, follow the NHS advice to serve dried fruit with meals rather than between them.
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Sixteen 16g cranberry packs suit a plan that calls for more separate handouts. These are cranberries rather than raisins; check the ingredients and sugars information on the pack.
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Sixteen 16g blueberry packs provide separate portions for sharing. Choose this fruit format only if it suits your guests, and check the exact pack’s ingredients and sugars information.
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The 100g fruit-roll format offers an alternative to raisin boxes. Confirm the number of individual portions on this exact pack before using it for one-per-guest handouts; do not assume it has the same count as BEAR Fruit Splits.
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Thirty 30g sachets offer separate portions for a larger guest list, but red dates are a different choice from small raisin boxes. Check for pits before offering them to children.
If you intend one sealed pack per person, start with the number of recipients. Tesco Seedless Raisins and Whitworths Sunny Raisin have 12-pack options; Whitworths 6x30g supplies six portions, and BEAR Fruit Splits 5x20g supplies five. Allow separately for any repeat servings or alternative products you intend to offer.
No. A no-added-sugar claim does not mean a dried-fruit product contains no sugars. Read the sugars figures on the exact pack’s nutrition panel, including the per-serving figure where one is given.
The NHS advises giving dried fruit such as raisins to toddlers with meals rather than as a snack between meals, because the sugar it contains can cause tooth decay. An individual snack pack does not change that serving advice.
Check the label on the exact product being served instead. Waitrose advises that recipes may change, so keep the packaging available for guests to inspect.
Keep the original food packaging available so guests can inspect ingredients and allergen information. GOV.UK recommends retaining packaging when providing food at community and charity events.